Research

My laboratory-based research programme explores a link between alternative pre-mRNA splicing (AS), a ubiquitous post-transcriptional gene regulatory mechanism, and prostate cancer (PCa) phenotypes.  During AS, coding (exons) and non-coding (introns) regions of a gene are shuffled to create protein isoforms with different functions.  AS is regulated by trans-acting RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), and tightly coupled to transcription. We are studying the link between dysregulation of transcriptional and intracellular signalling processes and AS, mediated by RBPs. 

Our translational research examines how blood-derived liquid biopsy molecular biomarkers can be used to improve treatment outcomes for PCa patients. With NHS colleagues, we are investigating minimally-invasive surgical alternatives to chemotherapy for metastatic testicular cancer to reduce the therapy burden and toxicity. In collaboration with the Wolfson Institute of Preventative Medicine, we are exploring how minimally-toxic chemo-preventative strategies may reduce PCa progression on active surveillance.

Other Activities

• 2019 to date- Member: National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Germ Cell Tumours Research Group
• 2019 to date- Member: NCRI Advanced Prostate Cancer Research Group
• 2019 to date- University College London Urology Clinical Academic Board

Major Funding

• 2021-2022 - Barts Charity Small Project Grant, Exploiting PTEN Loss in Hypoxic Tumour Cells (Principal Investigator) ~£48,000
• 2020-2021- CRUK Barts Centre Development Fund, Exploiting PTEN loss in Hypoxic Tumour Cells (Principal Investigator), £10,000
• 2018-2021- QMUL Life Sciences Initiative PhD Studentship, Understanding alternative splicing in human cancer by proteomics informed by transcriptomics (PIT) (Co-applicant with Professor Conrad Bessant), ~£80,000
• 2017-2021- The Urology Foundation/The John Black Charitable Foundation Project Grant, Androgen receptor splice variants in prostate cancer (Principal Investigator), £249,999

Recent Publications

171 Developing & Centralising a Nurse-Led Local Anaesthetic (La) Transperineal (Tp) Biopsy Service During Covid: A Success Story Winters D, Mehmi A, Odedra A et al. British Journal of Surgery (2022) 109(10)

Comparative Effectiveness Analyses of Salvage Prostatectomy and Salvage Radiotherapy Outcomes Following Focal or Whole-Gland Ablative Therapy (High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound, Cryotherapy or Electroporation) for Localised Prostate Cancer Nathan A, Ng A, Mitra A et al. Clinical Oncology (2022) 34(7) e69-e78

Retzius-sparing technique independently predicts early recovery of urinary continence after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy Kadhim H, Ang KM, Tan WS et al. Journal of Robotic Surgery (2022) (7)

Safety of androgen therapy in men with prostate cancer Rajan P, Tharakan T, Chen R Best Practice and Research: Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (2022) (7)

141 New Guidelines to Reduce Unnecessary Blood Tests, Delayed Discharge and Costs Following Robot Assisted Radical Prostatectomy Nathan A, Hanna N, Rashid A et al. British Journal of Surgery (2021) 108(10)

283 Salvage Versus Primary Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy: A Propensity-Matched Comparative Effectiveness Study from A High-Volume Tertiary Centre Nathan A, Fricker M, De Groote R et al. British Journal of Surgery (2021) 108(10)

New Guidelines to Reduce Unnecessary Blood Tests, Delayed Discharge and Costs Following Robot Assisted Radical Prostatectomy Nathan A, Hanna N, Rashid A et al. BRITISH JOURNAL OF SURGERY (2021) 108(1)
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000711212700249&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=612ae0d773dcbdba3046f6df545e9f6a

Early outcomes of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy following completion of a structured training curriculum: a single surgeon cohort study Sehmbi AS, Sridhar AN, Sahadevan K et al. Journal of Clinical Urology (2021) 14(7) 246-254

New recommendations to reduce unnecessary blood tests after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. Nathan A, Hanna N, Rashid A et al. BJU Int (2021) (1)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34110673

Salvage Versus Primary Robot-assisted Radical Prostatectomy: A Propensity-matched Comparative Effectiveness Study from a High-volume Tertiary Centre Nathan A, Fricker M, De Groote R et al. European Urology Open Science (2021) 27(1) 43-52

Team

Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr John Foster

Biography

Key qualifications